Lincoln High Street level crossing bridge work to begin in March

The pedestrian footbridge over the level crossing proposal, viewed from the lower High Street.

Lincoln High Street will be closed northbound between Tentercroft Street and St Mary’s Street from March 9 for almost a year, as work will begin to build a pedestrian footbridge over the level crossing.

Works will continue until the end of February 2016, although scheme partners Lincolnshire County Council say the stepped access at the bridge will be opened in December 2015.

Traffic will be diverted along St Mark’s Street onto Brayford Wharf East and back onto Wigford Way.

Southbound traffic onto High Street will turn left from St Mary’s Street and traffic from Wigford Way will be diverted around the island car park (formerly the Grand Hotel) to also turn left into High Street.

By preventing right turns into High Street and stopping the northbound flow, the council says the junction will be “simplified” and the number of signal phases will be reduced – particularly reducing the time between green lights.

The Lincoln High Street level crossing pedestrian footbridge from Network Rail, as viewed from the upper High Street.

After unmapped utilities were discovered at the site of the Brayford footbridge, work has been delayed by more than a year since it was meant to start initially. Instead, Network Rail is now moving ahead with the High Street bridge.

The work will see a lift provided at each side of the bridge, capable of carrying mobility scooters and pushchairs. 179 High Street will also be further redeveloped for reuse after the bridge is constructed.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We are removing trees from outside British Heart Foundation this weekend.

Trees to be removed as part of the works. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

“Traffic restrictions to allow us to erect the hoardings and start building demolition (partial) will start at the beginning of March.

“We still hope to have the service diversions for Brayford to enable the bridge to be built starting around March this year.

“The programme for building the bridge will depend upon what road closures etc are possible within the context of the city, not least our own work over on High Street but it should take around a year to complete.”

The High Street will be closed to all traffic for up to 48 hours on the weekend of March 7/8.

The closure will come into effect at around 8pm on Saturday and run through Sunday.

Significant changes need to be made to traffic signals and road markings as well as the temporary re-configuration of the junctions on Wigford Way and on St Marks Street.

The footbridge would help reduce crowds waiting at the High Street level crossing in Lincoln.

Proposals to pedestrianise the section of the High Street between Tentercroft Street and St Mary’s Street to vehicles have gone on public display this week.

On completion of the East West Link road in 2016, the section of the High Street between Tentercroft Street and St Mary’s Street will be closed to traffic, except for service vehicles during off-peak times.

Network Rail have not confirmed dates on the Brayford Wharf level crossing but work is due to start this summer.

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